South East CT Community Center of the Blind

Our Mission
Our Mission is to serve the social, recreational, educational, referral, and advocacy needs of the Blind and Visually Impaired population of southeastern Connecticut and assist them in attaining and maintaining an independent lifestyle.

Our Story
The Center was founded in 1972 through the efforts of Marjorie Heath, a blind woman who felt the need for Blind and Visually Impaired persons to come together and have social and recreational opportunities available to them. It was incorporated on May, 12, 1976. The Center of the Blind offers services to the more than 800 Legally Blind residents of Southeastern Connecticut. The Center has an ongoing volunteer force to help with social and recreational activities, reading, clerical work and transportation.

As a community service organization, we presently hold a number of activities and programs for our members and their families. At various times of the year, these may include: workshops, speakers of interest to the Blind community, Braille Transcription, and Computer Classes for the Blind and Visually Impaired. There are also recreational programs, such as: fishing, hiking, biking, and skiing. Classes in arts and crafts and sewing meet at the Center. We offer: field trips to places of interest, concerts, and museums. We provide transportation for our sponsored activities as well as limited transportation for medical and personal needs.

The Center of the Blind is equipped with a compatible Technology Lab with voice, scanner, speech synthesis, Braille writing equipment, enlarged copier, color CCTV’s as well as teaching aids and games for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The Center is fortunate to host a monthly visit from a Social Worker or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor employed by the State of CT Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind and Department of Aging and Disability Services. This informational and referral service is available locally by appointment.

The Center also operates a non-profit Outlet for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We stock a variety of items ranging from Talking Watches and Clocks, writing material, to signature guides.

The South East Connecticut Community Center of the Blind, Inc depends on funding by private contributions, donations, fundraising, and grants.